David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

What is the situation in regard to funding for the strategy? The Minister of State mentioned funding from different agencies but they are feeling the pressure at the moment. Has funding from his Department for the strategy been altered in any way?

Does the Minister of State agree with a statement a community worker made to me the other night that drug use tends to go up in times of recession? Has he any thoughts on that or plans in that eventuality?

I refer to the rise in heroin use, particularly in rural areas. There was a time when it was confined to Dublin but we now find heroin used all over the country. Has the Minister of State taken account of that? What plans has he to deal with that matter? There are ten community drugs projects in the Cork and Kerry region. Does the Minister of State have any plans to develop further projects in other towns and areas? Can he guarantee that the projects will not be affected by cutbacks?

See this speech in context